On Episode 4 of the Cult Film Club, hosts Jaime, Paxton and Shawn are taking a trip into the mind of indie director Don Coscarelli by watching his fantasy opus, The Beastmaster.

Starring Marc Singer (V), Tanya Roberrts (Sheena, That 70s Show), John Amos (Goodtimes), and Rip Torn (Men in Black, Freddy Got Fingered), the flick follows Dar, a warrior with the power to communicate with the animal kingdom, on his quest to avenge the destruction and mass murder of his village by the tyrannical wizard Maax. Along the way there are plenty of painted tigers, hot-bodied Stygian witches, and freaky bird people that make this film a true fantasy cult classic!

In the episode we discuss the fantasy/barbarian genre, the violence and adult content in the film, cinematographer John Alcott and his amazing use of lighting, the special effects, and the wonderful score by Lee Holdridge. We take a closer look at some of the actors in our regular segment, Hey Do I Know That Guy, as well as playing Hollywood moguls in a segment we like to call It’s Time For a Recast!

You can also join our not-so-exclusive but totally rad club so you can know which movie(s) we’ll be discussing next and watch along with us.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions on the topic of Cult Films, and how you came to be a fan, so send us an e-mail!

Films and TV Shows discussed in this episode include: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Bravestarr, Krull, Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep, John Dies at the End, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time, Beastmaster 3: The Eye of Praxsis, Beastmaster: The Series, Young Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Conan, V, Goodtimes, Men in Black, Freddy Got Fingered, That 70s Show, Sheena Queen of the Jungle, A View to a Kill, and Red Sonya.

Some things I took away… What the hell happened to the other girl that was bathing with Kiri. She disappeared as well as the other slave girls when Seth and Dar came to rescue them on the boat. Maybe I missed something but I was like, you just came for Kiri and the other slaves are on their own?

I too had forgotten that the bird matters came back to save the day. That was like my favorite part. I also remembered thinking when I watched this the first hundred times, how the hell was Kiri able to sneak up on Dar at the end? If she was really that sly, she would have escaped a long time ago! And did they ever explain how she knew about that secret door in the temple?

That aside, I wouldn’t change anything about this movie. Love it start to finish. I remember watching on HBO at a neighbor friends house and many times on extended cable. Between this and the sphinxes in the Neverending Story i think were my eye opening moments as a young boy to the upper female anatomy. Better than any sex ed book at least!

I like the Elba recast as Seth. He could totally take over that part. Although she would probably never do it, I’d recast Jennifer Lawrence as Kiri. She’s got that pretty fighter kinda quality. Dar is a tough one for me too. For some reason I see a wwe wrestler in this role, maybe Triple H? And then Maax… Mel Gibson if he ask all crazy.

I also remember watch it on HBO in my parents famliy room in the basement on one early Saturday morning in 83 just stay up watch stuff a nine year old should’nt watch on Showtime and Star aka The Movie Channel. I turned to HBO and saw Tanya Roberts one of my favorite Charlie Angels topless. I been a fan of sword and sorcery since the 70’s with Wizards and The Hobbit and other stuff.